Cotton cleaning machine



Aug. l5, 1939. H. T. AHRENs 2,169,782

COTTON CLEANING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Aorneys N /7 2"' #ra/7s u u u u u Aug. 15,1939.` l H. T. AHRENs COTTONlCLEANING MACHINE Filed May 27, 1938 2 'Sheets-SheetI 2 In ventor a m wr w .Wu I L E N\ W\ bm w\\k.\\f\m\ k w Nw m.\ Q\ .Il III Il Il! Ill lIII Il... MNHN u l: IIIIMHII, u ll'fllllllul ,In llflll.. ma: Il .I wlllu W\ Q\, N\ `m.\ 2 N 4, N\ k\ \m.\ X \l\ QN itorneys Patented Aug. 15,1939I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COTTON CLEANING MACHINE Henry T.Ahrens, Charlotte, Tex.

Application May 27,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to'cottoncleaning machines and an object vofthe-inventio-n'is to provide a machine which will insure a thoroughcleaning of the cotton, and the invention embodies an air-tightcontainen-one side of which consists of a plurality of aperturedconcaves with which cooperate rotary beaters in a manner assuring athorough agitating of the cotton, loosen.- ing the dirt and dusttherefrom, while at the same time causing the cotton to continue itspassage through the casing, the concaves being perforated to permit thedirt and dust separated from the cotton to pass therethrough.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be bestunderstood from a study of the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a bottom plan view of the cleaner,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the cleaner,

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View through the cleaner,and

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional View through the cleaner.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that inaccordance with the present invention the cleaner comprises a suitablesupporting frame that embodies a pair of opposed parallel bars 5-5respectively supported by legs 6.

The bars 5 support therebetween a relatively shallow broad casing 1 thatat one end is provided with an inlet funnel 8 and at its opposite endprovided with an outlet 9.

The walls of the casing 1 are substantially imperforate except for thebottom wall thereof, and which latter wall consists of a plurality ofintegral concaves I0, arranged in a longitudinal series extendingsubstantially from one end to the other of the casing.

The concaves I0 are perforated as at II.

Arranged within the casing 1 is a plurality of transversely disposedshafts including a plurality of shafts I2 and a shaft I3', there beingone shaft opposite each concave.

Carried by eachV of the shafts I2 is a longitudinal series of beaterarms or paddles I3, and the paddles lf3 are arranged in pairs, each pairof paddles having the shank portions thereof integral with a hub I4suitably secured to the shaft. Also, and as shown, alternate pairs ofpaddles I3 are arranged substantially at right angles to theintermediate pairs of paddles.

Also, and as shown, each paddle has the shank thereof at its free endmerging into a substan- 1938, Serial N0. 210,502

tially V-shaped head that at its outer edge 'is thickened and providedwith a groove I5 in which is secured through the medium of rivets orother fastening elements I6 one edge of a blade I1 which is formed ofrubber or similar material.

The blades I1, as the paddlesv revolve,have wiping engagement with theconcaves asshown and thereby serve to sweep the concaves in a manneragitating the cotton loosening the dirt and dust therefrom, so that thedirt and dust passes from the casing through the perforations II in theconcaves.

Also the arrangement of the paddles is such, and as shown, that eachconcave for the full length thereof is swept completely by the paddles.

As is also apparent the revolving paddles serve to force the cottonlongitudinally through the casing from one concave to the other.

The shaft I3 which is disposed adjacent the outlet end 9 of the casinghas: mounted thereon a paddle wheel which consists of an elongated hubI8 that is substantially of a length equal to the length of the shaftI3', and radiating from the hub I8 are blades I9 that are of a lengthcorresponding to the length of the hub I8.

The blades I9 are preferably formed of rubber and extend from one sideto the other of the casing 1. The blades I9 have wiping engagement withthe associated end concave IIJ and also have wiping engagement with acurved top wall surface 1a provided above the outlet 9 so that theblades I9 cooperate with the wall surface 1a for providing, as it were,a revoluble closure for the outlet 9 with the result that at the outletend 9 thereof the casing is rendered substantially airtight. It willthus be appreciated that with the air being thus prevented from escapingthrough the outlet 9 the pressure of air above the concaves I0 will besuiilcient to force all dust and dirt through the perforations I I inthe concaves thus insuring further a thorough cleaning of the cotton asit passes from the inlet to the outlet end of the casing.

Also the blades I9 act on the cotton to force the` same outwardly of thecasing 1 through the opening 9. n

In actual practice it will be understood that the cotton is forced intothe casing 1 at the funnel-equipped end 8 thereof through the medium ofa blower, and through the medium of the air pressure and the revolvingaction of the beaters forced longitudinally through the casing 1 passingfrom one concave to the other and nally discharged, free of dust anddirt, from the casing 1 at the opening 9 onto a suitable conveyorprovided to receive the cotton (the conveyor not being shown). Theconveyor would be used for conveying the cotton to, for example, theburr cleaning machine prior to the passage of the cotton to the ginstand.

It will also be apparent that instead of attaching a blower to the inlet8 for forcing air under pressure through the casing a suction device maybe suitably associated with the cleaner beneath the concavcs I forsucking the cotton into the casing 1 and the dust and dirt through theperforations Il in the concaves I0, the revolving paddles or bladespushing the cotton lengthwise of the casing 1 from the inlet to theoutlet end thereof. 'Y

An advantage of this device is `in the provision of the imperforateblades I9 on the paddle wheel at the outlet end of the casing whichblades, as previously stated, serve to prevent,

escape of air pressure from the casing except through the perforationsIl in the concaves.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utilityand advantages of an invention of this character will be had without amore detailed description.

VHaving thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

In a cotton cleaning machine an elongated casing adapted to have cottonto be cleaned to be passed therethrough, said casing being provided atone end with an inlet and at the opposite end with an outlet, and saidcasing also having a bottom wall composed of a series of integralperforated concaves, and beaters rotatably mounted in the casingopposite each concave, each of al1 of said beaters except one of saidbeaters comprising a shaft having a plurality of paddles arrangedthereon, said paddles being arranged in pairs with the paddles ofalternate pairs disposed at right angles to the paddles of intermediatepairs, and the said one of said beaters embodying an elongated hubhaving blades radiating therefrom, said blades being of a lengthslightly less than the width of said casing and being formed of rubber,and each of the paddles of the first-named beaters embodying a shankhaving an enlarged head at the free end thereof and a wiping bladesecured to said head, said head being provided with a grooveaccommodating one edge of the wiping blade, and said wiping blade beingformed of rubber and having wiping engagement with a concave to sweepthe dirt and dust through the perforations in the concave.

H. T. AHRENS`

